Daytime Damage

Night and/or Day

Night-time damage

Mounds are typically created by two different animals, moles and pocket gophers.
Mole mounds are circular and tend to be smaller 6-8 inches in diameter.
Pocket gopher mounds tend to be kidney or teardrop shaped and will be larger 10-15 inches in diameter.

Top view of Mole and Pocket Gopher Mounds

Side view of Mole and Pocket Gopher Mounds

Small dirt mounds like this one signifies earthworm scat. They can be distinguished from crayfish mounds because there is no chimney like character to the mound. To confirm the mound is from worms, scrape away the mound and look for a 1/4 inch size hole in the ground. This photo is courtesy of Julie Goldman, NY.

When does the damage occur?

Birds:
Identifying a specific species causing lawn damage would be very difficult. But bird damage on lawns may be distinguishable from skunk damage by

time of year - bird damage tends to occur in the fall

grass will be fluffy - birds have to grab grass with their beak and then pull, move and drop. Skunks can claw, shift and press. So a lawn damaged by skunks will still have holes but the grass will be pressed down not strewn about on the surface.

This photo by Michael Merchant of Texas Extension, shows that armadillo damage can be extensive. However, armadillos are more precise in their digging. Raccoons just shred the sod in their cumbersome hunt for food.

Raccoons will shred or roll the grass in search of grubs and worms. This photo by Christ Percha is an excellent example of how bad a raccoon can tear up a lawn.

Skunks:
Skunks are very precise in their digging. They will make individual cone shaped holes precisely at the spot where the grub/insect is. Photo courtesy of Rob Erickson of Wildlife Control Technology Magazine.